Hands on her hips, she looks at me as though I’ve lost my mind. “Who are you talking to? If anyone is a badass, it’s me.”
I chuckle, and it hurts, but it’s worth it. She’s right;sheis the badass in this equation. “Damn straight.”
“I appreciate you checking on me, but I know who you’re looking for. She’s in the barn.”
“I love you, Mom.”
“I love you, too.” She waves me away. “Go find your girl. Your boots are by the back door.”
If I had it in me to sprint to Daisy right now, I would. Instead, I move at a snail’s pace until I’m leaning against the barn door watching the love of my life brushing Blue. I ignore the police tape in the corner and focus on my person.
When Mom said she was in the barn, I was worried. Why would she want to be at the scene of the literal crime? Seeing her now, it makes sense. The horses were part of last night's trauma. She wants to make sure they're okay. She hums under her breath as she soothes him and herself at the same time.
“You takin’ care of my boy for me?”
She gasps at the sound of my voice, setting the brush aside. “Blue, your daddy is awake. We’ll pick this therapy session back up later.”
“Hey, baby,” I say once she’s in my arms.
“Hey, baby,” she repeats back to me. “I won’t ask you how you’re feeling, because I know you’ll lie and say you feel fine.”
She’s right. I feel like shit, why fake it?
“Did you get any sleep?”
“A couple hours. Did you take your pain meds?”
“Not yet.”
A horse sighs and chickens cluck in the distance, but neither of us speaks. We drink each other in, grateful to both be standing here.
“Owen?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m really glad you’re on this earth.”
Her smile radiates the joy I’ve felt every moment since she told her family I was hers. She’s my everything.
“Daisy?”
“Yeah?”
“Please don’t go home?”
“Tonight?”
“Ever?”
“You sure?”
“I’m stuck, remember?”
“You looking for a full-time co-parent?”
“Nope. Just want you. Every day.”
She slips her fingers through mine, leading me out of the barn. “Come on, let’s get back to the house. You need your pain meds, and I need to call my realtor.”
